Mt Everest avalanche news coverage

Am I the only one who is sick of hearing about the Google exec and the few other hikers who got killed because of the Nepal earthquake? There are THOUSANDS of people who died in their homes and places of work, but the majority of the news coverage is concerned about a bunch of hikers who took it upon themselves to wander around in a dangerous place. I feel bad for the Sherpas who were there making a living, but the rest of them who go to these places for fun, I don't get it. Maybe my problem is that I just don't understand the whole mountain climbing thing. I put these people in the same boat as the morons, usually British, who take their "holiday" in places like Afghanistan and Iran, and then get kidnapped. IDIOTS.

If you risk you life for fun, and subsequently lose your life, good riddance to you.

Thousands died that live there or were working to feed their families (Everest workers), yet the news reports on those that lived and were there for entertainment. News sucks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by colorider

News sucks.

---

This is why I just don't watch the "news". It's "what will get us the most ratings" now.

Need to ban avalanches, for the children.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by buffalobo

Need to ban avalanches, for the google executives.

---

FIFY

Pretty shitty attitude to say "good ridance" to people who like to enjoy themselves by seeking thrills. If you're sick of the news, try turning it off. I hadn't heard about this until your post, so it seems easy enough to avoid.

I still haven't heard if the Google exec googled when or how he would bite the dust? I thought Google knew everything?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Irving

Pretty shitty attitude to say "good ridance" to people who like to enjoy themselves by seeking thrills. If you're sick of the news, try turning it off. I hadn't heard about this until your post, so it seems easy enough to avoid.

---

Kind of what I was thinking. So much hatred. I expect a "good riddance" statement towards the terrorist that loses his life trying to terrorize, or the criminal that turns his weapon on officers, NOT someone simply trying to enjoy life.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Irving

Pretty shitty attitude to say "good ridance" to people who like to enjoy themselves by seeking thrills. If you're sick of the news, try turning it off. I hadn't heard about this until your post, so it seems easy enough to avoid.

---

I'm going to agree here.

No reason for that. I don't know where you are getting your news. I've only heard the Google guy brought up on national news and I get my national news from the Blaze. Listening to 850 this morning they were reporting on the local Coloradans affected by this.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...rest-avalanche

http://www.coloradoan.com/story/spor...rest/26414357/

There is also a fund going here called Shoes for Sherpas.

http://www.shoesforsherpas.org

Also a couple in Nederland that have been affected by this tragedy.

http://www.9news.com/story/news/loca...rant/26436527/

Our family has been keeping everyone involved in this in our prays. And we pray that all our fellow Americans make it home safely.

Davsel, this is the same attitude and comments that we fight with the anti's about all the time. I don't mean to be a dick, but I think you stuck your foot in your mouth on this one. So just because somebody likes to push the limits and live life to the fullest then we should damn them to hell? Yes I heard about the Google execs, but I've also listened to so many more stories of all the villages and small cities that were decimated. Who are you to judge somebody for wanting to climb a mountain, just as I am sure your sick of being judged for owning and shooting firearms.

My bad. "Good riddance" is too strong a sentiment.

Perhaps "Oh well, at least they died enjoying what they do," would more accurately reflect my view.

The problem I have is with the amount of rescue resources used and lives risked trying to save these "adventurers."
"Climb at your own risk"

How is the S&R effort a problem for you?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Graves

How is the S&R effort a problem for you?

---

They would be better utilized helping those who did not have a choice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by davsel

My bad. "Good riddance" is too strong a sentiment.

---

Don't start back-pedaling now. You wanted an echo chamber and you didn't get it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by davsel

at least they died enjoying what they do,"

---

You think they enjoyed being swept way and suffocated in an avalanche? I spend my winters in avalanche terrain and have lost friends to avalanches. If you don't "get it" then don't spout-off about.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Delfuego

Don't start back-pedaling now. You wanted an echo chamber and you didn't get it.

You think they enjoyed being swept way and suffocated in an avalanche? I spend my winters in avalanche terrain and have lost friends to avalanches. If you don't "get it" then don't spout-off about.

---

Life is precious.
I have little sympathy for those who choose to unnecessarily risk it or waste it.
I have contempt for those who unnecessarily cause others to risk their lives to save them.

Those heading out to rescue are volunteers almost exclusively. They have a choice too and aren't forced to go. With great risk comes great reward, those folks were looking to become part of an exclusive group that summit Everest. The people paying to climb Everest pay upwards of 100k. The Sherpas make 5k-30k per season, topping out at 40x the average ANNUAL salary for the area. They have great risk and reward as well. These deaths are nothing new for that environment. They will happen again.
as to the media, they will go after the most juicy story to draw in viewers. The Google exec was the higher profile person that gathers a bit more attention that your average climber/ thrill seeker. I offer little sympathy for a risk environment they knowingly went too. It's not like these people are sir Edmund Hillary making the first ascent of Everest...this was a known risky area, instead of a mountain getting them, it was a quake.

I just hope the damned Chinese are putting more resources and money towards rescue efforts than we are, what with them thinking they own the entire region and all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by davsel

My bad. "Good riddance" is too strong a sentiment.

Perhaps "Oh well, at least they died enjoying what they do," would more accurately reflect my view.

The problem I have is with the amount of rescue resources used and lives risked trying to save these "adventurers."
"Climb at your own risk"

---

It's all good.
Just remember mainstream media doesn't reflect the "mainstream". Same can be said for the gun debate.
My wife works for Sea to Summit. Some our outdoorsmen may know of them. The company's fonder is from Australia. He hiked from sea level to the top of Everest. She works for the North America division based in Boulder. It's been a pretty somber day around there.

http://www.seatosummit.com

"In 1984 a small group of climbers from the world's flattest continent pulled off an audacious ascent of Mount Everest - they put a new route up the north face in lightweight style with no oxygen or sherpa support. Six years later, one of the summiteers, Tim Macartney-Snape decided to return to Everest after he realized neither he nor any other person who had climbed the mountain had truly climbed the entire 8,848 meters, as that would have meant starting from sea level. That is, no one had yet climbed it from "sea to summit".

In the spring of 1990 Tim had a swim in the tepid waters of India's Bay of Bengal then set off on foot across the Gangetic plain toward the distant Himalayan foothills. Four months later, after climbing alone from Base Camp and without the assistance of oxygen, he set foot once again on the highest point on earth. Tim's solo ascent of Mt. Everest was named the "Sea to Summit" expedition."

Just don't group everyone together as "no one cares". There are plenty of people in this country and more important, locally that care about the thousands affected by this.

I am in no flipping way a mountaineer. But I envy them. Avid backpacker and outdoor enthusiast. I would love to the opportunity to go on an adventure like Everest. Never going to happen. But I'm sure the feeling of overcoming something like that is amazing.

We are all still human. Weather a climber, a Sherpa, or a donkey owner, it's all a tragic loss of life.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by davsel

Life is precious.
I have little sympathy for those who choose to unnecessarily risk it or waste it.
I have contempt for those who unnecessarily cause others to risk their lives to save them.

---

Some may call it an unnecessary risk, some may call it living life to its fullest. I have been an avid kayaker for years. I have paddled some wild rivers from Quebec to Colorado. I have lost friends to the rivers and the sky. They didn't set out to die, but rather died living life to it's fullest extent. Perusing what you love brings you closer to being alive than the comfort and safety of a protected existence in my opinion.

Hell, I saw more news stories about Bruce Jenner getting his dick cut off (and *gasp* being a Republican) than I saw of the tragedy in Nepal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by davsel

Life is precious.
I have little sympathy for those who choose to unnecessarily risk it or waste it.
I have contempt for those who unnecessarily cause others to risk their lives to save them.

---

Except that much of the Nepalese economy lives off tourism ... so those silly white first worlders that risk their lives climbing those rocks go a long way toward funding the very S&R agencies that exist there (along with helping pay for infrastructure, social services, military, police, etc) so just saying to them "you took the risk, screw you" is a good way to keep other white first worlders from coming there after the mess is cleaned up and thus reducing the quality of life for all Nepalese people.

In the long term, saving climbers on Everest insures more climbers come in the future and leave behind lots of money in a poor poor nation.

Video from Everest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JC_wIWUC2U

The news outlets are focusing primarily on Americans because their primary audience is other Americans.

Saw an interview with some folks stuck on Everest this morning. At least the guy on the sat-phone said that there are folks that have it worse than they do. He said that they at least had drinking water and sanitation at the base camp.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sniper7

With great risk comes great reward

---

and with great reward comes great risk, with neither being guarenteed. I do not like to see people die before their time but I will also not feign surprise when people put themselves in situations where death is not an infrequent occurance.

I have a question, I apologize in advance if it seems insensitive.

Do you think this will help with the terrible trash situation that Everest has?

Also, from that video, I don't think I'd want to go back into my tent if I were worried about another avalanche. I'd think I wouldn't want to be trapped by the material.